Posted August 26, 2020 | by KimS | in DemDaily, Democratic Party, Elections, House, Senate

DemDaily: Next on The Calendar. Tuesday’s Election Results

August 26, 2020

The presidential primary season is over, but there are still six regularly-scheduled state primaries or runoffs for statewide, congressional and/or legislative races between now and the end of the year.

In addition to yesterday's state primary run-off in Oklahoma, there is next Tuesday's high-profile US Senate primary in Massachusetts, followed by state elections in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware and Louisiana.

GOP Challenger Stephanie Bice (AP)

OKLAHOMA
The focus on Tuesday was on the Fifth Congressional District Republican Primary Runoff to determine who will take on vulnerable incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Kendra Horn.

In that contest State Senator Stephanie Bice, beat businesswoman and Trump Small Business Advisory Council Co-Chair Terry Neese, 52.9% to 47.1%. Although Neese had the endorsement of the conservative Club for Growth, which poured nearly $1 million into her candidacy, Bice, while still a strong Trump supporter, prevailed on a slightly more moderate message that better positioned her to take on Horn in the general election. Bice, nevertheless, would enter Congress as a conservative within her party.

"Stephanie is a proven conservative who is committed to defending our Second Amendment rights, protecting the unborn, and standing up for Oklahoma's taxpayers."
-- Former US Senator Rick Santorum (PA), in his August 6th endorsement of Bice

Horn, however, began running for reelection the day she entered Congress in January of 2019, having unseated a two-term Republican in a district Donald Trump won in 2016 by 13.4%.

Endangered Democrat Kendra Horn (BenFelder/The Frontier) Click

An attorney and co-founder of Sally's List, which recruits and supports progressive women candidates, Kendra Horn defeated GOP Congressman Steve Russell, 50.7% to 49.3%, in what was considered one of the biggest upset victories of the 2018 elections.

In doing so, she become the first Democrat to represent the Oklahoma City-based Fifth District in 44 years, making her an immediate top target for a challenge in 2020.

While both parties can be expected to invest heavily in the "Toss-Up" contest, Horn starts with a significant fundraising advantage, with $2.6 million on hand at the end of June, compared to Bice, who ended the pre-runoff reporting period on August 5th with just $80,000.

NEXT UP!
In perhaps the most-watched Democratic Senate primary of 2020, to be held September 1st, four-term Congressman Joe Kennedy III is challenging incumbent Massachusetts US Senator Ed Markey, who has held the seat for eight years.

Kennedy and Markey during February 18th Debate (Meredith Nierman/WGBH)

Markey has the endorsements of fellow Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY), Senator Cory Booker (NJ), five of the nine-member Democratic Congressional Delegation, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY).

Kennedy has the endorsements of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA), Congressmen Joaquin Castro (TX), Mark Pocan (WI) and the late John Lewis (GA).

A UMass Lowell poll, conducted August 13-21, 2020 (MOE +/- 4.2%) of likely Democratic primary voters showed Markey leading Kennedy 52% to 40%, with 6% of voters undecided, and 2% who favored another candidate.

State Primaries & Runoffs
September 1: Massachusetts State Primary
September 8: New Hampshire and Rhode Island State Primaries
September 15: Delaware State Primary
November 3: Lousiana State Primary
December 4: Lousiana State Runoff

Presidential & Vice Presidential Debates
September 29: First Presidential Debate (Cleveland, Ohio)
October 7: Vice Presidential Debate (Salt Lake City, Utah)
October 15: Second Presidential Debate (Miami, Florida)
October 22: Third Presidential Debate (Nashville, Tennessee)

DemList will keep you informed.